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The SNP has revealed plans to take legal action over this week’s televised debate between the UK party leaders.

The Nationalists are aiming to raise a £50,000 fighting fund over 48 hours to pay for the action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

SNP to take legal action after leader Alex Salmond was excluded from party leaders’ debate

The party is angry that leader Alex Salmond has been excluded from Thursday’s BBC debate between Gordon Brown , David Cameron and Nick Clegg .

They intend to lodge papers with the court on Tuesday, seeking a review of the broadcaster’s position to “ensure that Scottish interests are properly represented”.

The proposed action would seek to ensure that the debate is broadcast in Scotland with the nation’s political make-up “fairly” reflected – either by having SNP representation in the debate or through an agreement to have a further leaders’ debate organised before polling day.

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Unveiling the plans, Mr Salmond said: “The decision by the BBC, who are meant to be Scotland’s national broadcaster, paid for by our licence fees, not to have the country’s political make-up properly represented next Thursday is a democratic disgrace.”

Mr Salmond told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show that he was not arguing for the final leaders’ debate to be blocked.

“We’re arguing for the debate to be screened, we’re enthusiastic about the debate, we just want the debate to be fair and balanced,” he told the programme.

He called for an extra debate, or for the SNP and Plaid Cymru to get the chance to put across their views during a section of Thursday’s debate.

Labour’s candidate for Inverclyde, David Cairns, said: “This is desperate action from a party desperate to appear relevant in this election. The fact is that the Prime Ministerial debates are for the three men who want to become Prime Minister; Alex Salmond has no chance of being Prime Minister. Alex Salmond isn’t even standing in this election.”